Big Change Charitable Trust
About This Funder
Big Change Charitable Trust, founded in 2012 by Holly and Sam Branson, Princess Beatrice, and four friends in response to the London riots, drives systemic change to help all UK young people thrive beyond exams. Rooted in prevention over cure, it challenges root causes in education, social care, and mental health through bold, early-stage innovations. Core values emphasize diversity, equity, inclusion, youth empowerment, and fostering changemaker communities, prioritizing complex, "difficult-to-define" issues shunned by mainstream philanthropy.
The Trust funds youth-led or youth-benefiting initiatives tackling education innovation, mental health and identity, social care reform, climate education, food poverty, neurodiversity, digital/enterprise skills, and leadership for 18–25-year-olds. Supported activities include seed funding for proof-of-concept projects like Neuromancers (peer mental health), Force of Nature (climate anxiety), CanTeam (school hubs), and Paige Connect (tech for blind youth), generating scalable insights for whole-system transformation.
Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or social enterprises based in the UK (with England emphasis), typically early-stage or small-to-medium organizations without strict income limits; youth leadership and inclusion are key criteria. Grants range £25,000–£100,000, awarded biannually via trustee-led competitive challenges or invitations—no unsolicited applications, with dates announced publicly.
Distinctively, Big Change rejects established models, gap-filling, or non-root-cause projects, ensuring 100% public donations fund initiatives directly (overheads covered by Virgin Unite). It stands out for convening coalitions, embracing risk, and elevating youth as architects of change.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Big Change Charitable Trust provide?
Big Change Charitable Trust typically provides grants ranging from £25,000 - £100,000.
Where does Big Change Charitable Trust fund charities?
Big Change Charitable Trust funds charities operating in UK.
How do I apply for funding from Big Change Charitable Trust?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Big Change Charitable Trust. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Big Change Charitable Trust's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
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